EXCLUSIVE: MAFS star is slammed by Covid-hit business owners who gave her 'free' products for a failed Instagram giveaway in the hope of attracting 10,000 new followers - but ended up getting just 40
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Married at First Sight star Tracey Jewel has been slammed by small Australian businesses for failing to deliver them thousands of followers in exchange for free products.
Ebonnie Masini, the owner of Masini Sleepwear, claims 38-year-old Jewel contacted her on Instagram on June 30 with a business proposal.
In messages seen by Daily Mail Australia, Jewel offered Ms Masini a spot in a mass giveaway, indicating she would gain anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 followers if she were to participate.
The catch was that she'd be required to 'gift' Jewel and 10 other influencers products from her line as well as pay a $299 'buy in' fee.
Ms Masini refused, citing the pressures of a Covid downturn for being unable to afford the participation fee.
Former Married at First Sight contestant Tracey Jewel has been slammed by small Australian businesses for failing to deliver them thousands of followers in exchange for free products. Pictured wearing a Masini Sleepwear robe, surrounded by gifted products for the giveaway
Ebonnie Masini (pictured), the owner of Masini Sleepwear, claims 38-year-old Jewel contacted her on Instagram on June 30 with a business proposal
She claims Jewel then amended the conditions and accepted Masini Sleepwear into the competition without a fee, so long as she and three other influencers were gifted products.
Ms Masini, along with other small business owners who agreed to participate, was under the impression that all 11 influencers would promote the brand both on their stories and on grid posts.
The competition ran from August 15 to 21, and in the week since, Masini Sleepwear gained just 40 followers.
Ms Masini said 40 followers was 'about the average' of what each of the female-led brands gained.
Several other influencers have since claimed they were not made aware of the giveaway in advance and failed to receive the products
Ms Masini, along with other small business owners who agreed to participate, was under the impression that all 11 influencers would promote the brand both on their stories and on grid posts
While the businesswoman understands promoting products via Instagram influencers never guarantees sales, she feels the competition was poorly executed.
'We were lucky to have only gifted four items, however, these items all retail for $189 hence it’s not an insignificant amount for us as a small business,' she said.
'All brands involved have copped losses.'
Ms Masini said she'd tried to contact Jewel to ask what went so wrong and point out that only three of the promised 11 influencers promoted her product, but she's been met with legal threats.
'This is harassment, bullying, defamation and cybercrime and my lawyers will be contacted on Monday morning if this does not stop. This is your first and final warning,' Jewel wrote in an email to all of the businesses involved.
'I understand a few of you are unhappy with the lack of results with this giveaway. I am too... Sometimes things just don't get the high return.'
In messages seen by Daily Mail Australia, Jewel offered Ms Masini a spot in a mass giveaway, indicating she would gain anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 followers if she were to participate
Jewel has been at the centre of several controversies since appearing on Married At First Sight
She has since been in touch with several other influencers listed on the promotion, some of whom claim they had no idea it even existed.
Others say they were aware of the giveaway but either never received the products or received damaged goods with no instructions as to how or when to promote them.
'Many of them have since reached out embarrassed, apologetic and devastated that through no fault of their own their names have been tied to this,' Ms Masini said.
Jewel told Daily Mail Australia she was simply involved in the giveaway but did not organise the details of the agreement.
She instead claimed another business was responsible for organising the competition.
Daily Mail Australia tried to contact the business for further clarification, but had not heard back at the time of publication.
Jewel told Daily Mail Australia she was simply involved in the giveaway but did not organise the details of the agreement
